Button sewing machine



June 27, 1933. R. 1.. LYONS 1,915,330

BUTTON SEWING MACHINE Original Filed May 18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 27, 1933. R. 1.. LYONS BUTTON SEWING MACHINE Original Filed May 18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Patented June 27, 1933 UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE ROBERT L. LYONS, OF WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN BUTTON SEWING MACHINE 00., O1 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,

. CHUSETTS A CORPORATION OI MASSA- IBU'ITON SEWING MACHINE Application filed Kay 18, 1929. Serial No. 384,081. Renewed April 9, 1932.

In the attaching of buttons and the like by sewing machines much difliculty has been experienced heretofore due to the ,improper fixing of the starting end portion of the thread, resulting in the exposure of the thread end either on the outer face of the button or on the back face of the work and requiring this end to be trimmed off.

The present invention has for an object the holding of this end between the button and the work and in such a condition that it will be out of sight. For this purpose a clamping element may be extended between the button and the work and be so manipulated that it clamps the beginning thread end against the upper face of the work beneath the button. a

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation p of a button sewing machine provided with the thread clamping means.

Figures 2 and 3 are plan and side elevations, respectively, of the clamping element.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figures 5 and 6 are sections through the button and work showing successive relative positions of the needle and clamping element, Figure 6 showing the thread end portion clam ed.

Figure is a perspective, the button being shown in dotted lines and showing the clamp in clamping osition relative to two needles of a two-nee 1e button sewin machine.

Fi re 8 is a face view 0 the button as attac ed showing in dotted lines the thread position when clamped.

Figure v9 is a perspective of the work and attached button showing the button edge raised to disclose the threads at the clamped portions.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 7, but showing a single needle machine.

Referring to these drawings at 1 is indicated the work table of a suitable button sewing machine, this machine having the usual arm 2 provided with a head 3 for supporting a suitable needle mechanism for the machine.

As shown the machine is provided with a usual form of button clamp indicated at 4 which is pivotally mounted at 5 on an arm 6.

This arm is pivoted on a vertical pivot 7 so as to be swmgable laterally and carries beneath the button engaging portion of the clamp 4 a cloth plate 9. Thus the cloth plate rom front to back of the machine and laterally of the pivotal motion of the button clamp and work plate about the pivot 7. A machine using this arrangement of two needles for sewmg buttons is more completely shown, described, and claimed in my application for atent Serial No. 351,391, filed March 30, 1929, for Method and machine for securing buttons to work.

The subject matter of the present invention is, however, applicable to single needle machines for stitching either two or four; holes,

as shown somewhat diagrammatically m Figare 10. With the two needle arrangement shown in Figure 1 the work and button clamp.

are moved laterally of the paths of the needles between successive sewing strokes so that each needle passes alternately through two holes of a pair in the button, a suitable looper mechanism as is shown and described in my application hereinbefore referred to being employed to cooperate with the two needles to make stitches. At 10 (see Figures 1 and 4) is shown a segmental arm carried at the upper end of a rock shaft-11. This rock shaft is designed to be rocked to impart the transverse. motions to the work plate and button clamp and for this pur ose it is shown in Figure 1 as provided wit an actuating arm 12 at its lower end having a cam follower 13 riding in a groove in a cam 14 which is driven through suitable gearing 15 from the looper shaft 16. Adjustable in a'slot 20 in the upper face of this segmental arm 10 is the outer end of a link 21 the inner end of which is suitably pivoted to the arm the amplitude of oscillation of the lever 6.

This button clamp and its mounting is of 5 conventional type.

7 held downwardly The button clamp may be raised from the surface of the work held on the cloth plate 9 by any suitable means such as a pull chain 25 shown as attached to the forward end portion of the button clamp at its lower end and to a crank arm 26 of a rock shaft 27 at the upper portion of the machine, this rock shaft being actuable as by means of a chain 28 extending to a suitable treadle mechanism (not shown) from a crank arm 29 also fixed to the rock shaft 27, this also being a usual construction. The button clamp is normally to clamp the work against the upper face of the cloth plate as by means of a spring 70.

In accordance with the present invention means for clamping the starting end portion of the sewing thread (or threads) is employed and as shown this means comprises an element 30 pivoted to the under face of the button clamp support 31 on a vertical pivot 32, the rear end of the element 30 having a hole 34 therethrough to receive this pivot. The element 30 as shown is formed in two parts, comprising a rear bar portion 35 and a forward thread-engaging portion 36 fixed to the forward end of the bar 35 as by means of the screws 37. The portion 36 is preferably made somewhat resilient and is intended to bear against the upper face of the work carried by the cloth plate when the button clamp is in its lowered position. This element 30 is normally held in the rocked position in which it is shown in Figures 4 and 5 against a suitable stop 40 as by means of a leaf spring 41. This leaf spring is shown as attached to one edge face of the button clamp support 31 by means of a screw 42 and its free forward curved end bears on the edge of the portion 35 of the thread clamping element within a recess 43 cut therein. When the thread clamping element is in position against the stop 40 the forward ektremity 45 of the portion 36 lies at one side of the needle path, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, and it is in this position at the start of the stitching cycle when the button held by the clamp is brought down into clamping engagement with the upper face of the work to which it is to be fixed, and it remains in this position during the first pass of the needle or needles" down through the hole or holes at one side of the central front-to-rear axis of the machine. When the l needle bar 80 has completed its first stroke in the stitching cycle and is again in itsupward position, the button clamp with the cloth plate are moved together laterally of the machine to bring the other hole of the pair of holes in the button beneath the needle and in the needle path, the parts as shown being so related that this first lateral motion of the button and Work plate is toward the segment 11. At the same time the thread clamping element is given a movement in the same direction, but to a greater extent, this as shown being accomplished by a link 50 having its outer end pivotally connected to the segment 11 further away from the axis of the rock shaft 11 than'is the outer end ofthe link 21. As shown the outer end of this link 50 is adjustable along this segment though usually this will not be required. The inner end of the link 50 is shown as provided with an upstanding pin 51 which rides in a slot 52 in the opposite face of the thread clamping element 30 from the edge notch 43 and as the segment 10 is rocked to produce this first lateral motion of the cloth plate and button clamp, the pin 51 engages against the inner edge of the recess 52 and swings the clamping element 30 laterally so as to bring its forward end portion 45 across the path of the needle or needles and form a loop in each sewing thread as shown at 55 in Figures 6, 7 and 10. This end portion of the threadclarnping element presses the sewing thread or threads against the upper face of the work and beneath the button, thus acting to hold the starting end portion of each thread after the formation of the first thread loop 56 as shown in Figure 6, the end of the clamping,

element 30 having moved from the position shown in Figure 5 to the position shown in Figure 6 relative to the needle or needles to effect this engagement and clamping of the thread. The clamping element not only presses the thread down against the upper face of the work by virtue of its being carried by the button clamp to the lower face of which it is secured, but also if desired the portion 36 of the clamping element may be so shaped that when the button clamp is down, one or needle. This causes the pin 51 to be retracted from the base of the recess 52 of the thread clamping element, but the thread clamping element cannot be moved back to its original position by the spring 41 because of the pressure with which its forward end is pressed against the work, the spring 41 being of in suflicient strength to overcome the resistance to such motion. The stitches then take place in the usual manner first through one hole of a pair and then through the other hole until the stitching action, for a pair of holes is complete, the thread clamping element remainingin clan'iping position throughout the re- 4 with particular restricted to such use,

mainder of the stitching cycle. When the stitching has been completed and the button clamp is raised to remove the work to which the button has been secured, the resistance to the return of the thread clamping element to its original position is removed and as the stitching cycle stops with the segment 10 rocked in position to retract the pin 51 from engagement with ment, the spring 41 returns the thread clamping element to its starting position. The thread clamping element thus moves to clamping position .immediately after the first thread loop has been passed through the hole in the button and the work and remains in this position throughout the remainder of the stitching cycle, thus forming for each thread the loop 55 positioned between the lower face-of the button of the work W as best shown in Figure 9, the thread end lying somewhere either in the work or between the button and the work, depending on the adjustment of the tension of the machine which should be adjusted so that it will not extend out where it will be objectionable. Where a single needle and a single sewing thread are employed only one of these loops will be formed, but where a pair of needles are employed, two of such loo s will be formed, one for each sewing threa both of these thread loops, however, being formed by a single clamping'element and mechanism common to both of the needles and sewing threads.

While this invention has been described reference to the attaching of buttons, it should berecognized that it is not but might be employed where attaching of other articles by similarly positioned stitches is to be effected. The term button as used in'the claims, therefore, is intended to be eneric to such articles. It should also be evldent that many changes and modifications mi ht be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described,

means for holding a button and work in position to fix the button to the work, sewing instrumentalities for sewing the button to the work, a threadclaniping element, and means for actuating said element to clamp the starting end portion of the sewing thread between the button and the work.

2. In a machine of the class described, means for holding a button and work in position to fix the button to the work, sewing in- J strumentalities for sewing the button to the work, a thread clam ing element between the button and the wor andmeans for actuating said element to clamp the starting-end portion of the sewing thread.

3. In a machine of the class described, means for holding a button and work in posithe thread clamping ele-- B and the upper face tion to fix the button to the work, sewing instrulmentalities for sewing the button to the wor between the button and the work, and means for actuating said element to clamp the starting end portion of the'thread against the upper face of the work.

4. In a machine of the class described, means for holding a button and work in position to fix the button to the work, sewing instrumentalities including a needle for sewing the button to the work, a thread clamping element, and means acting after the first pass of the needle through a sewing hole in the button and through the work toclamp the starting end portion of the sewing thread between the button and the work. 4

5. In a machine of the class described, means for holding a button and work in position to fix the button to the work, sewing instrumentalities including a needle for sewing the button to the work, a thread clamping element, and means acting after the first pass of the needle through a sewing hole. in the button and through the work to clamp the starting end portion of the sewing thread against the upper face of thework.

6. In a machine of the class described, means for holding a button and work in position to fix the button to the work, sewing instrumentalities including a needle for sewing the button to the work, a thread clamping element, and means acting after the first pass of" the needle through a sewing hole in the button and through the work to move said element across the needle path to engage the starting end portion of the sewing thread and to clamp said portion against the upper face ofthe work beneath the button.

7. In a machine of the class described, means for holding a button and work in position to fix the button to the work, means for fixin the button to the work by a succession 0 thread loops passed through in the button and through the work, a thread clamping element, and means for actuating said element to clamp the thread between the button and the work and after the formation of the first loop.

8. In a machine of the class described,

a thread clamping element positioned v holes means for holding a button and work in position to fix the button to the work, means for fixing the button to the Work by a succession of thread loops passed through holes in the button and through the work, a thread clamping element, and means for actuating said element to clamp the thread after the formation of the first loop against the upper face of the work beneath the button.

9. In a' machine of the class described, means for holding a button and work in position for attaching the button to the work, sewing instrumentalities including a needle for sewing the button to the work, means for efiecting relative lateral movement between said holding means and needle between successive needle strokes alternately in opposite directions to present two holes of a pair in the button alternately in the needle path, a thread clamping element positioned between the button and the work, and means for moving said element across the needle path on the first of said lateral motions to engage and clamp the starting endportion of the thread after the first stitch.

10. In a machine of theclass described, means for holding a button and work in position for attaching the button to the work, sewing instrumentalities including a needle for sewing the button to the work, means for effecting relative lateral movement between said holding means and needle'between suc cessive needle strokes alternately in opposite directions to present two holes of a pair in the button alternately in the needle path, a thread clamping element positioned beneath the button, and means for moving said element across the needle path on the first of said lateral motions to engage and clamp the starting end portion of the thread against a face of the work after the first stitch.

11. In a machine of the class described,

means for holding a button in position to fix it to work, sewing instrumentalities including a needle, means for moving said holding means laterally of the needle path alternately in opposite directions between successive needle strokes to present alternately two holes in the button in the needle path, a thread clamping element positioned between the button and the work, and connections between said moving means and element for moving said element across the needle path on the first lateral movement of said holding means after the first sewing stroke to engage and hold the starting end portion of the sewing thread.

12. A machine of the class described com prising means for holding a button in position to fix it to work, sewing instrumentalities including a needle, means for moving said holding means laterally of the needle alternately in opposite directions between successive needle strokes, a thread clamping element movably carried beneath said button holding means, spring means tending to hold said element at one limit of its motion at one side of the needle path, and connections from said moving means to cause the first lateral motion of said holding means in the stitching cycle to move said element across the needle path against the pressure of said spring means to engage the starting end portion of the sewing thread beneath the button.

13. A machine of the classdescribed comprising a cloth plate, a button clamp movable toward and from said cloth plate, means for pressing said clamp toward said cloth plate to clamp work therebetween and to hold a button in position for attachment to the work, sewing instrumentalities including a needle for fixing a button to the work, means for moving the cloth plate and button clamp laterally of, the needle between successive sewing strokes to present two holes of the button alternately in the needle path, a thread clamping element carried on the lower face of said button clamp and having a portion extending between the button and the work, a spring tending to hold said element with said portion extending at one side of the needle path, and connections from said moving means for moving said element to cause said portion to pass across said path against the pressure of said spring on the first lateral movement of'said cloth plate and button clamp in the stitching .cycle to engage the starting end portion bf the sewing thread and clamp it against the upper face of the work beneath the button.

14. A machine of the class described comprising a cloth plate, a button clamp movable, toward and from said cloth plate, means for pressing said clamp toward said cloth plate to clamp work therebetween and to hold a button in position for attachment to the work, sewing instrumentalities including a needle for fixing a button to the work, means for moving the cloth plate and button clamp laterally of the needle between successive sewing strokes to present two holes of the button alternately in the needle path, a thread clamping element pivoted to the under face of said button clamp for movement laterally of said needle and having a portion extended beneath the button, a stop for limiting the pivotal movement of said element in one direction to a position wherein said portion extends on one side of the needle path, a spring tending to hold said element against said stop, and a member engageable with said element and actuated by said moving means for moving said element against the action of said spring to move said portion across said needle path on the first lateral movement of said cloth plate and button clamp of the stitching cycle and clamp the starting end portion of the sewing thread against the upper face of the work beneath the button.

15. A machine of theclass described comprising means for holding a four hole button and work in position for attaching the button to the work, sewing instrumentalities including two needles for fixing the button to the work with twosewing threads, and means operating between the button and the work for clamping the starting end portions of both threads against the upper face of the work. 7

16. A machine of the class described comprising means for holding a four hole button and work in position for attaching the button to the work, sewing instrumentalities including two needles for fixing the button to the work with two sewing threads, a thread clamping element and means for moving said element across the two needle paths between the button and the work after the first sewing stroke of the stitching cycle to engage and clamp both threads at their starting end portions.

17 A machine of the class described comprising a throat plate, sewing instrumentalities for sewing work supported above said throat plate, a thread-clamping element above said throat plate, and means for actuating said element to clamp the starting thread end against a face of the work.

18. A machine of the class described comprising a throat plate, sewing instrumentalities including two sewing needles for sewing work supported above said throat plate,

a thread clamping element above said throat plate, and means for actuating said element to clamp the starting thread ends from both needles against a face of the Work.

19. A multiple needle machine of the class described, comprising a throat plate, sewing instrumentalities includng two sewing needles and two loopers for sewing work above said throat plate, above said throat plate, and means for actuating said element to clamp the starting threads ends.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

ROBERT L. LYONS.

a thread clamping element 

